Hardcore Droid
  • Home
  • Spotlight
  • Reviews
    • Action
    • Strategy
    • RPGs
  • Most Hardcore
    • Devices
    • Gifts
    • Gadgets
  • About Us
  • Dude where is my beer logo
    Dude, Where Is My Beer? Review
  • online-solitaire-strategy
    Online Solitaire Strategy: How to Improve Your Game and Impress Your Friends
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War 6th anniversary banner
    Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War Celebrates 6th Anniversary with New Mini Game, Events and More
  • Street Brawlers: Tower Defense feature image
    Street Brawlers: Tower Defense Review
  • Android-gaming
    Android Gaming: The Future of Entertainment?
  • Best of the Month feature
    Best Android Games of the Month – May 2023
  • Best Retro Android Games
    Best Retro Android Games
  • B2B Apocalypse load screen
    Bad 2 Bad: Apocalypse Review
  • Honkai: Star Rail Banner 3
    Honkai: Star Rail Review
  • online-backgammon-0
    Online Backgammon: A Brain-Teasing Game That Can Boost Your Mental Health
  • online-solitaire-00
    Five Ways to Play Solitaire Online Just for Fun
  • online-solitaire-22
    Mobile Gaming Phenomena: Unraveling the Latest Trends
  • Raging Bytes RPG android game
    Raging Bytes Launches on Google Play
  • Top-Android-Simulations-0
    The Top Android Simulation Games in 2023
  • apps-vs-browser-00
    Native Mobile Apps vs Browser Apps: Which Is Better?
Hardcore Droid
Hardcore Droid
  • Home
  • News
    • News
    • Spotlight
    • Interviews
    • Consoles
  • Reviews
    • Action
    • Adventure
    • Strategy
    • RPG
    • MMOs
    • Racing
    • Indie
    • Hardware
  • Best Of
    • Top 10 Games
    • Best RPGs
    • Best Action
    • Best Puzzlers
    • Best Strategy
    • Best Indie Strat
    • Best Indie RPGs
    • Most Hardcore
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Game Jobs
    • Archives
    • Attributions
    • Opportunities
  • Platformer
  • Strategy

Lara Croft GO Review

  • September 15, 2015
  • Isaac Davis
Spread the love

Android-action-laracroftgo-thumbReducing Square Enix’s greatest hits down to single-player board games is not a formula that should work. It’s not even an idea that should cross an executive’s desk and come away with a stamp of approval. Yet here we are, just a little more than a year past the release of Hitman GO, and we’re already onto the second title in the surprisingly excellent “GO” series.

Lara Croft GO takes the gameplay of Tomb Raider and compresses it into a series of short turn-based navigation puzzles. The titular raider is placed on paths where her movement is restricted to adjacent “squares” in four or fewer directions. Each time she moves, the active environmental elements move too; that means giant spiders, giant saw blades, giant boulders…lots of giant things.

Android-action-laracroftgo-01

This limited movement makes up the heart of each puzzle: how will Lara reach the exit on such a restricted path with so many obstacles headed her way? Waiting snakes will pounce on her if she approaches from the front, but are vulnerable to her pistols from the side. Komodo dragons will start to follow her if she enters their field of view, so she must use the other obstacles to neutralize them.

The game is divided into five chapters: three main “tombs” with a tutorial at the beginning and a boss at the end. New mechanics are introduced throughout, like spears that will let Lara take out enemies from a distance and movable pillars that will create new paths. None of these wear out their welcome. In fact, my main complaint is that the game feels a little short: they wouldn’t even need new mechanics – I would’ve happily taken a few more puzzles of each type.

I certainly got my money’s worth in the slick visuals, though. Hitman GO presented itself as a literal board game, but Lara Croft more closely approximates the original Tomb Raider games while somehow maintaining a minimalist vibe. Lara is endearingly blocky, and every flat-shaded surface pops with color. The isometric camera presents each puzzle as a little diorama.

Android-action-laracroftgo-02

One noticeable absence is the level challenges from Hitman GO. Now, the only goal is for Lara to reach the exit – no extra points for shortest number of moves or for killing all the enemies. This system is replaced with small urns hidden in each level. New outfits are unlocked by tapping every urn in a chapter. There is less replayability here, but I was still satisfied, mostly thanks to the pacing. Hitman GO was a very stop-and-start experience, and it was common to attempt every challenge on one level before proceeding to the next. In Lara Croft GO, there is a great sense of urgency (even in a turn-based game) driven by the ever present snake monster who is the game’s final boss. I was happy that the game’s own momentum pushed me along to the end

So, while Lara Croft GO might be easier to complete in its entirety, I did so happily. I look forward to more levels, but as of now, the only in-app purchases are more outfits and an “all solutions” button. Neither is essential or distracting, and they certainly aren’t enough to detract from an overall fantastic game. I wonder how long it will be before we see Kane & Lynch GO. Crap, why does that joke sound like such a good idea?

 

But is it Hardcore?
4.5

Yes!

Lara Croft GO manages to be a great mobile puzzle experience while still maintaining the feel of the Tomb Raider series.

Related Topics
  • Android Puzzle Games
Isaac Davis

Isaac Davis is a NYC writer, recovering student, and downtrodden former rollercoaster tycoon. Any leads on amusement park design work are greatly appreciated.

Previous Article
Interview with a Game Designer: Sarah Northway
  • Simulation

Rebuild: Gangs of Deadsville Review

  • September 15, 2015
  • Sharang Biswas
View Post
Next Article
  • RPG

Doom & Destiny Advanced Review

  • September 17, 2015
  • Michael Jaoui
View Post
You May Also Like
Dude where is my beer logo
View Post
  • Indie
  • Puzzle
  • Reviews
  • Simulation

Dude, Where Is My Beer? Review

  • Allison Van Oirschot
  • May 25, 2023
Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War 6th anniversary banner
View Post
  • Free Games
  • News
  • Strategy

Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War Celebrates 6th Anniversary with New Mini Game, Events and More

  • Mayra Reynoso
  • May 23, 2023
Street Brawlers: Tower Defense feature image
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Strategy
  • Tower Defense

Street Brawlers: Tower Defense Review

  • Dave Weber
  • May 23, 2023
Cat Rescue Story Cat Types
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Simulation

Cat Rescue Story Review

  • Allison Van Oirschot
  • May 15, 2023
Limbus Company Title
View Post
  • Reviews
  • Strategy

Limbus Company Review

  • Michael Licon
  • May 15, 2023
Witch Arcana title
View Post
  • RPG
  • Strategy

Witch Arcana – Magic School Review

  • Daniel DeAngelo
  • May 8, 2023
Doodle Run Banner
View Post
  • Free Games
  • Platformer
  • Reviews

Don’t Touch: Doodle Run Review

  • Mayra Reynoso
  • April 26, 2023
View Post
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Reviews
  • Simulation
  • Strategy

Whiteout Survival Review

  • Allison Van Oirschot
  • April 21, 2023
The Latest
  • Dude, Where Is My Beer? Review
  • Online Solitaire Strategy: How to Improve Your Game and Impress Your Friends
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War Celebrates 6th Anniversary with New Mini Game, Events and More
  • Street Brawlers: Tower Defense Review
  • Android Gaming: The Future of Entertainment?
  • Best Android Games of the Month – May 2023
  • Best Retro Android Games
  • Bad 2 Bad: Apocalypse Review
  • Honkai: Star Rail Review
  • Online Backgammon: A Brain-Teasing Game That Can Boost Your Mental Health
Meta
  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Hardcore Droid
  • Reviews
  • Spotlight
  • Hardcore
Core Gaming on the Android OS

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

x
x